While New York-based McIntosh’s hybridized amp technology isn’t exactly new – it’s already available in the MC901– its forthcoming MC451 Dual Mono Amplifier has a smaller form factor that’s better able to fit home audio systems, racks, and other furniture.
The MC451 Dual Mono Amplifier’s 150 Watt solid-state section drives woofers, delivering rich bass and enigmatic lows, while the 300 Watt vacuum tube section drives the speaker’s midranges and tweeters. Both sections can deliver their full power to speakers regardless of impedance and without stealing juice from one another.
McIntosh has also made bi-amping speakers simple: no more trial-and-error configurations; instead, audiophiles can use the adjustable crossover to tell the MC451 when to kick in the vacuum and when to use the solid state section. In layman’s terms, creating a customized crossover point for different genres of music pays big-time dividends for sound quality. Rock music calls for a broader solid-state range, while jazz (or DMX’s Rudolph cover) sounds best with a broader vacuum range.
Two blue-lit watt meters monitor amp output, while three green-lit windows showcase the valve tubes. Tinkerers are protected by McIntosh’s proprietary Power Guard, which prevents the amp from overdriving their speakers. Preorders for the MC901’s little brother are now open at $14,000.
In other McIntosh news, check out the company’s MDA200 D/A Converter.